The purpose of the present study is to present a general concept of the developmentof settlement1 in the USSR, and through this to work out the basicpolicy assumptions for controlling the growth of towns and other settlements.Without this concept it would be difficult to carry out rational regional andurban planning. The concept of settlement development should, on the onehand, have a theoretical basis, and on the other, be based on an analysis of theempirical trends in modern settlement networks.

Urbanization is one of the most important processes in the development ofsociety today. It is a complex and polyfunctional one. In studying urbanization,therefore, specialists in several scientific disciplines, must take part since evenin introductory studies one can distinguish many elements in the urbanizationprocess: technological, economic, geographical, ecological, political, sociological,socio-psychological, medico-biological, socio-demographic, moral, esthetical, andso on. But despite this necessary differentiation an integrative approach to thestudy of urbanization as a unified system is an imperative goal.In the present study we would like to consider only the socio-demographicaspects of urbanization, in socialist countries. But first an explanation of whatthe authors understand by the expression "socio-demographic" is necessary.

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Oleg V. JLarmin, State University of MoscowValentino. M. Moiseenko, State University of MoscowBoris S. Khorev, Moscow Slate University. Moscow. USSR

Isaak M. Maergoiz, Institute of Geography Academy of Sciences of the USSRVenyamin M. Gokhman, Institute of Geography Academy of Sciences of the USSRGeorgii M. Lappo, Institute of Geography Academy of Sciences of the USSRYurii L. Pivovarov, Institute of Geography, Academy of Sciences of the USRR, Moscow

Nikolai T. Agafonov, Gosplan of the Russian Soviet Federated Socialist Republic, LeningradEduard V. Knobelsdorf, Council on the Study of Productive Forces, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSRNikolai F. Timchuk, Council on the Study of Productive Forces, Academy of Sciences of the Ukrainian SSR

Vitalii F. Medvedev, Research Institute for Economics and Economic-Mathematical Methods in Planning Gosplan of the Byelorussian Socialist Soviet Republic.Spartak A. Polskii, Research Institute for Economics and Economic-Mathematical Methods in Planning Gosplan of the Byelorussian Socialist Soviet Republic.